Eilean Dhu: Gourock Bay, Upper Firth Of Clyde
Ferry (20th Century)
Site Name Eilean Dhu: Gourock Bay, Upper Firth Of Clyde
Classification Ferry (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Inner Clyde Estuary; Eilean Dhu
Canmore ID 301543
Site Number NS27NW 8165
NGR NS 24768 77975
Datum WGS84 - Lat/Long
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/301543
- Council Inverclyde
- Parish Maritime - Inverclyde
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Maritime
- Former County Not Applicable
NS27NW 8165 2469 7796
N55 57.763 W4 48.532
NLO: Gourock [name: NS 230 770]
Gourock Bay [name centred NS 247 777].
(Location cited as N55 57.763 W4 48.532W (WGS84) [NS 2469 7796]. This was reported in 1988 as being a S[team] Ferry, EILEAN DHU, length 16.8mtrs, which sank in 1973 while under tow to the breakers.
No further details are known of the vessel, but the remains were surveyed in 1993 and were reported as being very broken up, being in four parts.
The charted depth is 24.5mtrs.
Information from Lieitenant Commander Nelson McEachan, Royal Navy (Wrecks Section, UKHO), 11 December 2009.
The identification of this wreck that is cited by UKHO is accepted.
The charted location lies within the centre of the wide mouth of Gourock Bay. UKHO chart no. 1994 (1974, revised 1994) charts it [Wk] on a level seabed. No seabed type is noted nearby.
The loss of this vessel is not cited by I G Whittaker 1998.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 11 December 2009.
Evidence Of Loss (11 December 2009)
(Location cited as N55 57.763 W4 48.532W (WGS84) [NS 2469 7796]. This was reported in 1988 as being a S[team] Ferry, EILEAN DHU, length 16.8mtrs, which sank in 1973 while under tow to the breakers.
No further details are known of the vessel, but the remains were surveyed in 1993 and were reported as being very broken up, being in four parts.
The charted depth is 24.5mtrs.
Information from Lieitenant Commander Nelson McEachan, Royal Navy (Wrecks Section, UKHO), 11 December 2009.
Note (11 December 2009)
The identification of this wreck that is cited by UKHO is accepted.
The charted location lies within the centre of the wide mouth of Gourock Bay. UKHO chart no. 1994 (1974, revised 1994) charts it [Wk] on a level seabed. No seabed type is noted nearby.
The loss of this vessel is not cited by I G Whittaker 1998.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 11 December 2009.
Reference (19 April 2012)
UKHO Identifier : 004173
Feature Class : Wreck
Wreck Category : Dangerous wreck
State : LIVE
Classification : Unclassified
Position (Lat/long) : 55.96281,-4.80767
Horizontal Datum : ORDNANCE SURVEY OF GREAT BRITAIN (1936)
WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 55.96272,-4.80886
WGS84 Origin : 3-D Cartesian Shift (BW)
Previous Position : 55.96288,-4.80780
Position Method : Electronic Distance Measuring System
Position Quality : Surveyed
Position Accuracy : 10.0
Depth : 24.5
Depth Method : Found by echo-sounder
Depth Quality : Least depth known
Water Depth : 26
Water Level Effect : Always under water/submerged
Vertical Datum : Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name : EILEAN DHU
Type : S FERRY
Flag : BRITISH
Length : 16.8
Shadow Height : 0.9
Date Sunk : ??/??/1973
Bottom Texture : Mud
Scour Depth : 0.0
Contact Description : Entire wreck
Original Sensor : Acoustic Sensor
Last Sensor : Acoustic Sensor
Original Detection Year : 1988
Last Detection Year : 1993
Original Source : Other
Last Source : Survey Vessel
Circumstances of Loss : **SANK WHILE ON TOW TO BREAKERS. (J CROWTHER).
Surveying Details : **H1310/88/19 & H1270/86 8.4.88 SANK OFF COVE ROAD SLIPWAY IN APPROX 555744.5N, 044821.5W [OGB], CLOSE TO THE Y BUOY. STANDS ABOUT 2MTRS HIGH IN GEN DEPTH OF 30MTRS. (J CROWTHER, 17.3.88). INS AS NDW. BR STD.
**HH090/597/01 6.7.93 EXAM'D 9.5.93 IN 555746.1N, 044827.6W [OGB] (WK REPORT), IN 555746.4N, 044828.1W (ROS AND FAIR SHEET) USING TRISPONDER [4 LOP]. LEAST E/S DEPTH 24.5 IN GEN DEPTH 25.5MTRS. NO SCOUR. DCS3 HT 0.9MTR. A VERY BROKEN CONTACT IN 4 PARTS. THE OTHER 3 ARE: 27.9MTRS IN 555746.4N, 044820.8W; 26.4MTRS IN 555746.5N, 044825.3W; 28.5MTRS IN 555746.8N, 044818.5W. (HMS GLEANER, HI 597). CHART AS WK 24.5MTRS IN 555746.1N, 044827.6W [OGB]. BR STD.
**HH090/597/01 14.9.93 POSN CONFIRMED AS 555746.1N, 044827.6W. (HMS GLEANER, 3.9.93). NCA.
POSITIONS BELOW THIS POINT ARE IN DEGREES, MINUTES AND DECIMALS OF A MINUTE
General Comments : A VERY BROKEN CONTACT IN 4 PARTS
Desk Based Assessment (27 November 2014)
No further information found on shipbuilder or build-place of the Eilean Dhu. No vessel under this name appears on www.clydesite.co.uk [accessed 2 December 2014] which may indicate that the vessel was not Clyde-built.
Information from Sally Evans (Cotswold Archaeology), 27/11/2014.
Project (October 2014 - April 2015)
The maritime archaeology of the Clyde has been identified as a focus for a major study of human interaction with the river through time by the RCAHMS following on from recommendations by the Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (ScARF). Source to
Sea has been developed as the long-term research programme, of which the research into human connections with the River Clyde forms part. This project has comprised a study of the surviving shipwreck heritage of Clyde-built vessels lost within the Clyde estuary and Firth of Clyde.
This project has collated information from a range of sources and has enhanced knowledge of Clyde-built wrecks within the Clyde. In particular information from recreational divers has proved invaluable and has been the source of detailed information about the current condition of many Clyde-built wrecks, useful for on-going management. A number of wrecks previously recorded as of unknown identity in the RCAHMS database were positively identified during the project and more accurate positional information was established for a number of other wrecks. Additionally, the project identified a potentially significant wreck (Margaret Niven) the remains of which were not previously recorded. This project has also identified a number of other potentially significant wrecks within the Clyde, which reflect both its unique contributions to world-wide shipbuilding and local connections. These wrecks include paddle steamers (Lapwing and Princess of Wales), Clyde Puffers (e.g. Margaret Niven), steam-yachts with military connections (HMS Breda), a dredger (Greenock) and an 18th-century West Indiaman (Lady Margaret). Numerous other wrecks have been identified by this project, and all display some degree of significance.
Information from Sally Evans (Cotswold Archaeology) April 2015
